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The pitching of Trenton Griffin and solid defensive play sparked Stanbury’s 1-0 win over Grantsville on a cold Tuesday afternoon in Stansbury Park.

Griffin struck out 10 and allowed only three hits to improve to 5-0 on the season. He also helped himself with key defensive plays in the infield.

Stansbury scored the only run of the game in the second inning with a leadoff walk to Jake Colovich, who then moved to second on a sacrifice grounder by Bubba Peterson and on to third on a groundout by Kyle Lindsley.

CJ Johnson knocked the only RBI of the game when he blooped a two-out single to right to score Colovich.

“Both teams played great defense today. That’s why it ended up a 1-0 game. Offense usually has a harder time too when it’s cold like this,” said Stansbury coach Ray Clinton.

There were zero errors in the game. Stansbury committed six errors in an 8-7 loss at Bear River on Friday, so the Stallions worked hard on defense in its next practice.

“We just had so many errors in the Bear River game that we worked hard to make sure we catch the ball before we throw it,” Clinton said.

Griffin pitched a perfect game through four innings by retiring the first 12 batters he faced.

Grantsville pitcher and No. 4 hitter Wyatt Barrus, who had only allowed three hits pitching through his first four innings, belted the ball to deep right field to start the fifth inning with a triple.

No. 5 hiiter Wyatt Smith grounded out to first for the first out.

With Dillon Hutchins in the batter’s box, Grantsville tried a suicide squeeze play in an attempt to score Barrus from third. Hutchins laid down the bunt that was fielded by Griffin, who threw to catcher Alex Mackay for the second out of the inning.

With two-on and two-out still in the fifth, Grantsville brought in Danny Nelson to pinch hit, but Griffin struck out Nelson to end the inning.

Johnson knocked his second hit of the game to leadoff the bottom of the fifth for the Stallions. A balk sent him to second base, but Barrus retired the next three Stansbury hitters.

Clay Matthews singled up the middle to start the sixth for Grantsville, but then was gunned down at second when Alex Mackay fired down to brother Nick Mackay, who tagged out Matthews on the steal attempt. After a pop out and walk to Dallin Williams, Griffin was able to get the third out with a ground out.

Barrus pounded the ball again to start the top of the seventh, but Stansbury center fielder Ian Calder chased down the fly ball for the out. Smith singled up the middle, then Griffin got a ground out and his 10th strikeout to end the game.

Last week, Stansbury won its first game against Bear River and lost the second game.

“It’s always good to get the first game of the week; it puts a little less pressure on you for the next game — especially when the games are agaisnt a rival,” Clinton said.

Both teams made some spectacular defensive plays in the game. Grantsville’s third baseman Garrard and shortstop Nick Arbon both made diving plays to the left and fired to first for outs.

The two teams will go right back at it again on Thursday in Grantsville. Stansbury, Grantsville and Bear River will battle it out this year for the region title. After Tuesday’s games, Stansbury and Bear River were on top with 4-1 records, Grantsville 2-0, Tooele 0-4 and Ben Lomond 0-3.

Mark directs all editorial coverage of sports in addition to reporting on a wide range of events from high school football to international racing. He has a wealth of journalism experience, having worked for four other newspapers in the state. Mark grew up in Tooele County and graduated from Grantsville High School and Brigham Young University.

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